You will be exploring primary source documents on the British National Archives Learning Curve website. For additional resources on the Evacuations, see the links at the bottom of this page.
The novel Lord of the Flies takes place during World War II. In order to get a better idea of what life was like in England and how the boys end up on the island, use the links below to find information about the effect of war on the British, especially the children. Record all of your findings on your handout.
To begin, click here to go the National Archives website.
Click on the image on the left ("Where were children evacuated from their homes...?"). This page provides a description of the events surrounding the evacuations; the various images on the page show the original documents. You will read the indicated primary source documents and record your findings/answers on your handout. Start with Source 1 (upper left); you will be able to access the other documents from here.
(The questions are the same ones published on the website.)
Source 1: Government Evacuation Scheme
Why did the British government want children living in cities and towns to leave their homes when the war started?
In addition to children, who else was going to be evacuated?
The only luggage allowed to each child was a small rucksack he would carry. What was meant to be in it?
Source 2: London County Council Study of Evacuation, 1940
How many days did the main evacuation take?
How many disabled and nursery children traveled on the first day of the evacuation from London?
Why were there delays?
Click on "Main Page" twice (in the upper right corner of the screen) to return to the main Evacuation page. Click on the image on the right ("Why were some children from Britain...?"). Start with Source 1 (upper left).
Source 1: War Cabinet Minutes
What were the risks of children traveling to overseas countries?
Why was the Prime Minister anxious to stop the scheme for evacuating children overseas.
What did the overseas dominions (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa) and the US offer to do in 1940?
Source 4: Chief Escort's Report
What were the ages of the youngest children to travel to New Zealand?
What were the children taught during the voyage?
Now go to the Library of Congress to complete an interactive activity examining a photograph taken during this time period. Be sure to save your responses! Once you finish the activity, close the window and returnhere.
As part of the evacuation progress, the Ministry of Health produced war propaganda. Analyze a few of the posters, and answer the questionsbelow.
War Poster 1: "Mothers, Send Them Out of London" - click here
Who is the intended audience of this poster?
What is the goal of this poster?
Describe the people in the poster. How are they dressed? What do their facial expressions and posture suggest about how they feel?
Do you think this poster would have been successful in achieving its goal? Why or why not?
To what possible threat or danger was this poster a response?
Do you think this poster would have been successful in achieving its goal? Why or why not?
War Poster 3: "Leave Hitler to Me, Sonny" - click here
Who is the intended audience of this poster?
What is the goal of this poster?
What does the poster suggest about how some children may have felt about the war and evacuation?
Do you think this poster was successful in achieving its goal? Why or why not?
On Your Own - Browse these websites to learn more about evacuations. In particular, look closely at photographs that show children during the evacuation.
Extension Activities
Complete these activities upon completion of the WebQuest.
Imagine you are a British child who has been evacuated from London and was sent either to the countryside or to a foreign country. Write a letter home (one page) describing the life you lead there, and explain how you feel about being away from home. (15 points)
Based on your knowledge of evacuations, create a poster the government might have used to convince parents to send their children out of the war zones. You must clearly demonstrate the goal and the intended audience. Complete the post IN COLOR. (15 points)
World War II: Lord of the Flies WebQuest
You will be exploring primary source documents on the British National Archives Learning Curve website. For additional resources on the Evacuations, see the links at the bottom of this page.
The novel Lord of the Flies takes place during World War II. In order to get a better idea of what life was like in England and how the boys end up on the island, use the links below to find information about the effect of war on the British, especially the children. Record all of your findings on your handout.
To begin, click here to go the National Archives website.
Click on the image on the left ("Where were children evacuated from their homes...?"). This page provides a description of the events surrounding the evacuations; the various images on the page show the original documents. You will read the indicated primary source documents and record your findings/answers on your handout. Start with Source 1 (upper left); you will be able to access the other documents from here.
(The questions are the same ones published on the website.)
Source 1: Government Evacuation Scheme
Source 2: London County Council Study of Evacuation, 1940
Click on "Main Page" twice (in the upper right corner of the screen) to return to the main Evacuation page. Click on the image on the right ("Why were some children from Britain...?"). Start with Source 1 (upper left).
Source 1: War Cabinet Minutes
Source 4: Chief Escort's Report
Now go to the Library of Congress to complete an interactive activity examining a photograph taken during this time period. Be sure to save your responses! Once you finish the activity, close the window and return here.
As part of the evacuation progress, the Ministry of Health produced war propaganda. Analyze a few of the posters, and answer the questions below.
War Poster 1: "Mothers, Send Them Out of London" - click here
War Poster 2: "Don't Do It, Mother" - click here
War Poster 3: "Leave Hitler to Me, Sonny" - click here
On Your Own - Browse these websites to learn more about evacuations. In particular, look closely at photographs that show children during the evacuation.
Extension Activities
Complete these activities upon completion of the WebQuest.
Just for fun: